LOUISIANA BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE

REPORT FORM

1. English and Scientific names: Green-tailed Towhee

2. Number of individuals, sexes, ages, general plumage (e.g., 2 in alternate plumage): one (probably first winter)

3. Locality: Parish: Plaquemines

Specific Locality: Diamond Recreation Park, north of Port Sulphur

4. Date(s) when observed: 22 January 2012

5. Time(s) of day when observed: about 8:30 a.m.

6. Reporting observer and address: Dan Purrington, 4700 Bissonet Dr. Metairie, LA

7. Other observers accompanying reporter who also identified the bird(s): Phillip Wallace, David Muth

8. Other observers who independently identified the bird(s):

9. Light conditions (position of bird in relation to shade and to direction and amount of light): various

10. Optical equipment (type, power, condition): 8x42 Eagle binoculars

11. Distance to bird(s): 15-100 ft

12. Duration of observation: 5-10 minutes

13. Habitat: brushy, dead ragweed, blackberry vines, etc.

14. Behavior of bird / circumstances of observation (flying, feeding, resting; include and stress habits used in identification; relate events surrounding observation): responded frequently to taped call, but otherwise was hard to get up, but moved with small flock of White-crowned Sparrows.

15. Description (include only what was actually seen, not what "should" have been seen; include if possible: total length/relative size compared to other familiar species, body bulk, shape, proportions, bill, eye, leg, and plumage characteristics. Stress features that separate it from similar species): See photo. Fringillid, white throat, malar stripe, rusty cap, rust on wings. See photo by the writer at http://www.tulane.edu/~danny/GTTO.html.

16. Voice: a slurred nasal mew or whine

17. Similar species (include how they were eliminated by your observation): nothing similar, none of the towhees, etc.

18. Photographs or tape recordings obtained? (by whom? attached?): by RDP. Video by Phillip Wallace

19. Previous experience with this species: breeds on my property in Colorado

20. Identification aids: (list books, illustrations, other birders, etc. used in identification): none

a. at time of observation:

b. after observation: Sibley, on question of age.

21. This description is written from: _____ notes made during the observation (_____notes attached?);_____notes made after the observation (date:_____); __X__memory.

22. Are you positive of your identification if not, explain: yes

23. Date:__29 Feb 2012________Time:__2 p.m._____